Bitter Rival
The Tap Brewing Company

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From:
The Tap Brewing Company
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
7.3%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.66 | pDev: 10.66%
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
44
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 03, 2018
Added:
Apr 23, 2013
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  9
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.65 by KMcGrath from Massachusetts

Dec 03, 2018
Photo of GimmeASchlitz
Reviewed by GimmeASchlitz from Massachusetts

3.79/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a tulip glass

Pours a nice cloudy golden copper color with a fluffy biege head. There is sediment but not a mood killer.

Not getting much on the nose other than some floral notes and sweet bread.

First sip gives me citrus peels, grapefruit, lot of bitterness and sweetness. The biterness lingers on the palate. As you keep drinking you get tropical notes such as mangoes and sweet clementines.

Good medium body with good carbonation. I felt a bit of stickiness as well.

I like this beer. Great tag on the bottle that describes it perfectly. Liquid brutality. Brutal hops but balances slightly with a bit of sweetness. It isn't my favorite IPA in the state. I wanted more from the nose but not a deal breaker.
Jan 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.52 by bpmorrissey from Massachusetts

Apr 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.69 by Abe_Froman from Massachusetts

Dec 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.31 by SawDog505 from New Hampshire

Dec 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.52 by outoffocus from Pennsylvania

Nov 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.9 by Dizzy242 from Massachusetts

Jul 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by ZBR101 from Pennsylvania

Mar 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.73 by rjp217 from Massachusetts

Jan 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by lambpasty from New Hampshire

Jan 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by athomasPSU from Massachusetts

Oct 21, 2014
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
4.0 3.75 4.0 4.25 4.0

This beer pours with a lot of sentiment. The liquid is red-orange-dark amber. Small, but lumpy head--slowly recedes. Great frothy lace.

The smell is a pleasant combination of semisweet caramel and mild floral hop.

Smooth start with a rich toasted malt up front. The hop is strong in the swallow, very similar to black pepper. Good carbonation to balance the full body.
Aug 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by ccurrid from Massachusetts

Jun 13, 2014
Photo of ColdOneKev
Reviewed by ColdOneKev from North Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A - Hazy copper with a fluffy white head. Head lasts and leaves tight lacing rings. Second half of the 220z bomber kicked up a ton of sediment. This is something I've experienced before from this brewery. Cosmetic issue only though.

S - Piney hops, caramel sweetness, biscuit.

T - Hop bitterness is very overpowering. I was expecting a little more hop aroma and flavor, but it really lives up to its bitter name. I do like it, but not what I expected from a Best Coast IPA.

M - Light body, light carb, leaves the palate and tongue incredibly dry.

O - It's a clever name, especially since I'm a fan of the Boston hockey club. The flavor is lopsided with the bitterness. I would've preferred a little more of the hop flavor to come through.
Jun 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by JMFP from Delaware

Jun 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Kelp from New Hampshire

Apr 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Hoggo from Massachusetts

Apr 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Plissken from Massachusetts

Apr 20, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by Rekrule from Massachusetts

Apr 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by trevorpost from Pennsylvania

Apr 19, 2014
Bitter Rival from The Tap Brewing Company
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 44 ratings